Rope tramway



(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. RENO. ROPE TRAMWAY.

No. 394,724. Pgten'ted Dec. 18, 1888.

is M j gg l g f (No Model.) 4 y s sheets-sheet 3.

J. W. RENO. ROPE TRAMWAY.

No. 394,724. Patented Dec. 18, 1888.b

im W

.'al Q bij gli :i 2 q es k I@ :z X a .Attorney s.

6. Sheets-Sheet 4. J. W. RENO.v ROPE TRAMWAY.

(No Model.)

Patented Dec. 18, 1888.

.Attorneys (No Model.) A 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

J. W. RENO.

ROPE TRAMWA'Y.

.Attorney 6.

N. PETERS. Pianto-lithograph, Wuhngkm. [2.0

6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Model.)

J. W.- RENO. ROPE TRAMWA'Y.

Patented Deo. V18, 1888,.

N4 PETERS. PlmlofLilvhngrnphur. Walhngiun. D. C.

UNTTED STATES PATENT Ormea.

JESSE \V. RENO, OF LEADVILLE, COLORADO.

ROPE TRAMWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,724, dated December 18, 1888.

Application iled June 25, 1888. Serial No. 278,093. (To model.)

T all whom, t may] concern,.-

Be it known that l, JESSE 1V. RENO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leadville, in the county of Lake and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rope Tramways, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to elevated tramway of the class in which the track is formed by ropes supported upon pillars or supports, and to inclined tramways of the class usually termed gravity-roads, in which the Weight of a descending loaded car will serve to draw an empty car up to the upper terminus; and it consists in the improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully disclosed in the description, drawings, and claims.

The objects ot' my invention are, lirst, to provide an inexpensive (comparatively) rope tramway which may be employed in inaccessible and rugged countries for the cheap and easy transportation of ore or other material from a mine on a mountain side to a mill, railroad, or roadway, or between similar points; second, to provide a one-track tramway with a switch at its middle in the length which will i admit ot' one ear descending and another car ascending over the same track and at the same time; third, to provide an obliquely-arranged pulley at the upper terminus ot' a gravityztraniway and to secure the tail-rope or traction-rope to the cars in such a manner that they will pass true to said pulley without danger ot' slipping ott. from the same; fourth, to provide such an oblique pulley with a brake tor governing the ascent and descent of the ears upon the tramway and for stopping' them when desired; fifth, to provide guide-rollers for such a tailor traction rope; sixth, to provide improved supports for the track-ropes of such a tramway; seventh, to provide au improved elamp tor securing the track-ropes to the ends of the supports; eighth, to providea solid track or support t'or the ears at the lower or dumping terminus.

The cars are suspended from the axles of the wheels and are providedA with hinged bottoms, which are automatically opened by means provided at the dum ping-platform and which are automatically closed after the load is dumped.

a part of this specilication, and in which the Same reference-numerals indicate the same parts, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved tramway, showing the hill or mountain upon which said tramway isvconstructed in sectional profile; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the upper end of the. tramway and the loading-platform; Fig. 3, a top plan View of the same; Fig. 4c, a section of the grooved tread part of the oblique pulley at the upper end of the tramway; Fig. 5, a side View of one of the rope-supports; Fig. 6, a transverse vertical section of the tramway, showing the rope supports in elevation; Fig. 7, a top plan view of one of the ties or sleepers for said rope-supports; Fig. 8, an enlarged detail view ot' the rope-clamp at the end of a support; Fig; 9, a side elevation of the switch; Fig. 10, Sheet 1, a top plan view of the same; Fig. 11, Sheet l, a transverse vertical section on the lines ,r .r of Figs. 9 and 10; Fig. 12, a sectional detail view oi' the cap of one of the rope-supports at the ends of said switch, showing the manner ot' anchoring the ropes and the switch-rods; Fig. 13, a detail view of said cap, showing the anchor-seats for the switchrods; Fig. 14, a loi'igitudinal vertical section of the dun'iping teri'ninus ot' the tramway; Fig. 15, a transverse vertical section of the dumping terminus and a car upon the same. Fig. 15L is a detail section otl the latch-bar GG for the car-door; Fig. 16, a detail bottom plan view ot the releasing device for opening the bottom or dumping door of the car; Fig. 17, Sheet 1, a section of a wheel of one of the cars; Fig. 18, an axial sectional detail view IOO of the rim of said wheel, showing the rubber p lining as it appears after it is secured in place in the groove of the rim; and Fig. 19 is a detail showing the wire tie t'or the ends ot the rubber lining.'

In the drawings, the numerals l Aindicate the two track-ropes, which are preferably strong wire ropes, each of one-half the length of the track. The upper ends of said track-ropes are secured by means ol:` suitable anchors, 2, and are supported at a distance from said anchors upon the upper ends oi two outwardly-inelined supports or posts, fl, which rest with their lower ends upon a tie or base, 4f, and are connected by a cross-piece, 5, near their upper ends. 'lhe portions ot' the trackropes between said supports and said anchors arehorizontal and in a plane with the loadingplattorln l, which is formed by horizontal beams 7, supported at their inner ends near said anchors and near their outer ends by upright supports or posts 8, which rest upon said tie or base l. lhe upper ends ot said upright posts S support two inclined beams, l), the inner ends ol which are secured to the inner ends ol.' the lillatt'orln-supporting beams 7, and the outer ends ot' which are connected by a cross-piece, lll. The shatt ll ot' a grooved pulley, l2, is journaled at an angle to said inclined beams 9 in boxes lil, secured upon the same in such manner that said pulley will be at an angle to the edges ot said inclinedv beams and to their plane, `for a purpose hereinafter described. Said pulley is formed with a wide and flat rim or periphery, l-l, Fig. l, which `has a deep groove, l5, in its middle., preferably lined with a rubber or similar yielding packing, ll, and a brake-lever, 17 is lulcrunied upon au upright, 1S, and has a weight, lil, or a spring t'ortorcing the brakeshoe i() ot said lever t'roni above agz'tinst the tia-t rim ot' said pulley.

The track-ropes are sul'aportcd at suitable distances apart by supports or posts 2l, formed with rounded lower ends, 22, Fig. 5, which fit and inay rock in cylindre-concave chairs or pillow-blmks :Bil upon the upper faces ot' the ties or slee `ers 2l which rest u )on the side ol the mountain. Said supports are united near the upper ends by cross-pieces 25, and two anti-frictimi or supporting rollers, 2li, t'or the tail-rope or traction-rope are transversely journaled between said supports. 'lhe upper ends ot' said supports are provided with clamps or caps composed ol' two pieces or jaws, 27, clamped upon the ends ot' said supports b v nutted bolts 2S and lormed with upwardtv-projeeting lips 2l), between the concave sides ot' which said track-ropes are clamped, as plainly shown in Figs. l and .Q ol the drawings.

At the middle ot' the track is lormed a switch, 30, for the purpose of allowing one car to pass over the other as they meet in ascending and descending. Said switch is composed ot two s ts ct track-rods, 3l and 32, which, respectively, are supported one set above the other. The supports or posts iinn'iediately above said switch are provided with caps 33, termed withv grooved ridges 3l and Fig. i3, upon their upper laces, and the ends of the upper set ot track-rods, 3l, are inserted through the outer ridges, 3l, and secured upon the under sides ot' said caps 533 by nuts E36, and the ends ot the lower set of trackrods, 32, and ot' the track-ropes are inserted through the inner ridges, 35, and secured upon the under sides of said caps 323 by nuts 237 and 3S, Fig. l2, said lower track-unis and trackropes forming one continuous track, while the upper track-rods torm a track ol a somewhat broader Said upper and lower sets ol' track-unis are inserted in the same manner a-t the lower end ot the switch to ridged caps Ill), secured upon the upper ends ot' short posts l0, which are vconnected by cross-pieces ll and supported by said track-rods and by the lowerlengths oit' track-unie, which are secured in said caps in the same manner as the ends ol:` the upper lengths. Y The upper track-rods are formed with upwardly-inclined portions, straight portitms, and downwardly-inclined portions, and the lowertrack-rods with downwardly-inclined straight portions and upwardly-inelini-id portions, and for the purpose ot spacin said track-rods and supportin g them at their proper distances and in their proper shape two U-sl'laped trames or supports, 42, are provided, which have the upper trackrods supported in their upper ends at the ends of said straight portions, and the lower trackrods held drawn down by bolts -i-l, which pass through ears il at the ends ot' said straight portions ot' said lower track-nuls, as plainly shown in l `ig. ll.

At the dumping terminus ol.' the track the track-ropes are carried over the upper faces of two beams, l5, which are supportedV upon posts 40, and are lhereullion secured by anchors -1-7. Said beams are 'tal-.tal with angle irons or rails -l-F, upon which the track-ropes may rest and the wheels ot the ears run, said angle-irons havingthc uppercinls, -l-ll, inclined lor the purljiose ot allowing the grooved earwheels to run upon said irons or rails and clear ol' the ropes.

The cars 5() are Formed ot' rectangular sheetiron boxes 5l, which are supported by hangers 52 upon their upper sides l'rom the axles 53 ot' the grooved wheels 'lhe rims ol the. wheel ol' one car are tornlcd with one peripheral groove, 55, which may lit upon the track.- ropes and. upon the lower trzu-k-rods ol' the switch, and the rims ot the wheels ot' theother car are l'ormed with said inner peripheral grooves, 55, and with outerperipheral grtalves, 5o, which may lit upon the upper track-rods ot' the switch, which are secured at a broader gage, so that when the cars meet at the switch the car having only one groove in its wheel will always pass on the lower switch-rails or track-nuls and I )eneath thecar having two grooves in its wheels, which will leave the inner track at the ridged caps upon the support and travel with the outer grooves ot' its wheels upon the 'upper switch-rails or trackrods above the other car until it again strikes TOO TIS

the track-ropes with the inner grooves of its wheels at the other end of the switch.

The grooves in the car-wheels are lined with rubber or similar material, which linings consist of a strip, 57, which is placed in said groove and has its ends united by means of pieces of wire, 5S, inserted through said ends and through holes 59 in the iianges or sides of the groove and having their ends twisted together. A strip thus secured in the groove of the wheel will be forced into said groove and to correspond to its shape by the trackrope as the wheel travels upon the saine.

Referring to Fig. 10, it will be seen that the branch ropes 60 at the ends of the tail-rope 60 are secured to the upper ends of the cars at their corners, and said branch ropes are attached to the end of the tail-rope for the car which passes over the upper switch-track rods, so as to bring the knot 60, which unites said branch ropes and tail-rope, to register with a point at a distance from the upper right-hand corner of said end of about onefourth of' the width of the car, and to the end of the tail-rope for the car which passes over the lower switch-track rods, so as to bring the rope-knot 60, which unites. the branches of the rope for said car, to the other end of the tail-rope to register with a point at the same distance from the lower left-hand corner of said end, so that both ropes will be supported y upon the centers of the rollers between the supports. This diminishes the tendencyT of the cars to move sidewise, since the rope is not attached at a point on the vertical line through the center of' gravity of the car. It will also be seen that the short posts 40 are provided with a roller, 26, for the tail-rope the same as the upper post, 2l.

Referring to the frames which support the switch, I prefer to make them of railroad-iron and weld their upper ends into seats, within which the upper switch-track rods are firmly secured.

Referring to the car, l prefer. to secure it by angle-strap 52 to the square part of the axle and to mount the wheels so as to turn freely upon the axle. The car which passes over the lower switch-track rods is provided upon its top with rollers 6l, near the ends of said top, for the support of the tail-rope during the first half of a descent and the last half of an ascent of said car, when said rope will travel over the top of said car. By securing the ends of the tail or traction rope to the cars in the aforedescribed manner one pulley, secured obliquely and in the manner hereinbefore described at the upper end of' the track, will only be required for said rope to pass over, as the rope will enter and leave the groove in the periphery of said pulley at a tangent and directly in line with the points of attachment of its ends. y

The upper end of each car is formed with an outwardly-opening door, 62, Fig. 14, which is hinged at its lower edge upon the lower side of the angle-iron end frame, 63,01?y the car and provided with a hooked latch, 64, at the upper edge, which latch engages the upper side of the angle-iron end frame. Then the car is loaded at the upper end o f the tramway, said door is tilted down against the platform, and the ore or material for the load of the car may be shoveled into the open end or dumped into it from a bin or receptacle through a chute.

The bottom of the car is hinged at one side edge to the side of the car, and its free edge is engaged, when said bottom is closed, by a bar, 66, of' angle-iron, which is hinged to the side of the car by means of' upwardly and inwardly projecting hooks 67, which engage slots 68 in said side. Said angle-iron bar has one side projecting in under the lower edge of the side and supports the free edge of the hinged bottom upon saidside. Flat springs 69 are secured to the sides of' the car and bear with their lower ends against the outer side of said angle-iron bar 66, forcing said bar inward to engage and hold the free edge of said hinged bottom when the latter is closed. The horizontal side of said an gle-iron bar 66, which I will term the latcli-ba1, is provided at intervals upon it-s under side with beveled lugs 70, which will serve to admit of said hinged bottom being forced with its free edge against said lugs and forcing said latch -bar back against the springs, so that said hinged bottom may be slammed shut against the beveled lugs. Said latch-bar is formed with a laterally-projecting arm, 7l, provided with a downwardly-projecting pin or bolt, 7 2, at its outer end, upon which pin or bolt a sleeve or roller, 7 3, is secured and may revolve. A iiat bar or plate, 74, is pivoted upon the under side of one of the beams 45 at the dumping terminus, and said bar or plate is formed with an oblique upwardly-bent lip or flange, 7 5,- at its outer end, said lip or flange having its inwardly-pointing end toward the lower end of the dump. The inner arm of said pivoted bar or plate 74 bears against a stop, 76, and has a coiled spring, 77, which draws said inner arm against said stop. lt will be seen by reference to let, l5, and 16 that when the car arrives at the dump the pin of the latch-bar will be engaged by the oblique flange 75, which will draw said latch-bar out and release the hinged bottom, while the spring will permit said pivoted plate or bar 7 i to yield and to be tilted out of' the way by said pin 7 2 when the car again ascends. A lever, 78, is fulcrumed under the beam 45 of the dump opposite said pivoted bar or plate, and said lever is provided with a bumper, 7 9, upon its inner end, with which it may bear against the hinged bottom of a car, and with apoise, 80, upon the outer end of the lever, which poise is of sufcient weight to counterbalancc and close the hinged bottom of the car. A yielding bumper, 81, is preferably arranged to receive the de.- scending poise of said lever.

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In practice the car at the upper end of the tramway is iilled through its open end, as described, said car being held securely by t-he brake, which is applied to the oblique pulley.

W'hen the car is loaded, the brake is raised` from said oblique pulley and the loaded ear will descend, pulling the empty car at the other end ot the tail-rope or traction-rope up by said rope. The speed ol the cars may be controlled by said brake and oblique pulley, and when the cars arrive near the switch the speed preferably decreased. (.)ne car will pass over the other at said switch, and the cars will continue in their respective directions until they are stopped by the cmptycar arriving at the upper terminus of the track and the brake being applied to said oblique pulley. The loaded descending car will have its latch-bardisengagedby the oblique flange 75 drawing the pin 72 and said latch-bar out as said pin engages said flange, and the hinged bottom of said car will swing down, dumping the load. The weight of the load upon said hinged bottom will raise the weighted end ot' the closingdever 7S, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l5, and the poise upon said lever will slam said hinged bottom shut when the load is dumped.

The pile of ore at the dumping terminus.

will be comparatively long and low on account of the loads of the cars bein g dumped in their entire lengths by the tilting' bottoms, and the supports for the dumping terminus of the track will therefore not need to be as high as would be necessary if the loads were dumped in a short and high pile from a short trap in the bottom of each car or from short cars.

lt desired, several dumping mechanisms and unlocking and closing devices may be arranged at the lower terminals oi' the track and be placed into or out ot operative position at will.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that this tramway may beV put up and conducted upon Amountain sides where no ordinary road or tramway could be made, so that mines which could not proiitably be worked on accolint ot their inaceessibility may now be worked with profit by means of my tramway t'or carrying down vthe ore and l'or carrying up all implements and provisions needed. All the parts which compose the tramway are otl sufficient connilactness to be Vcarried by common mountain mules, so'

ports at the upper end, while the traekropes and rods are merely held spaced` by the posts 40 and cross-pieces l at the lower end of said switch, said switch will not be rigid on account of its track-rods -an d U -shaped trames, but will form a yielding part of the yielding and ilexible track. Said power of yielding possessed by this track will prevent sudden jars and strains which might be caused by rapid descent of heavily-loaded cars, admitting ot comparatively high speed with safety.

By having one track otl the switch above the other only the same width of supports will be required over the entire length of the tramway, and the desired iiexibility for the tramway willnot be obstructed and destroyed lby a switch with two tracks alongside each other, which would require a very wide and solid support, besides interfering with the alignment of the tailropes.

The switch at the middle of the track will admit of only one track being employed for moving two cars in opposite directions bythe gravity of the loaded car, thus considerably eheapening the cost of such a tramway, and the capacity, safety, and general effectiveness of said tramway are increased over wire-rope tramways having only one track rope by reason ot' the track being formed by two ropes.

Having thus iully described the construction and arrangement or combination of parts of my tramway, its operation, and advantages, what l claim as new is- 1. A rope tramway which consists otl two track-ropes and pairs of supports for said ropes, cach pair of supports being rigidly connected and movably supported at their lower en ds, substantially as described.

2. The combination,with a rope tramway which consists of two track-ropes and pairs of supports t'or said ropes, each pair ol' supports being rigidly connected and movably supported at the lower ends, of cars having grooved wheels which travel upon said traekropes and their supports, substantially as described.

3. A tramway which consists ol' one track with a switch at its middle, in combination with two cars and a tail-rope or tractionjrope ot' the length of the entire track secured with its ends to said cars and passed around a pulley at the upper end of the track, substan- 'tially as described.

al.. The combination oi' a tramway which consists of one track, a switch at the middle of said tramway and formed with one elevated and one depressed track one above the other, a pulley at the upper cnd of the track, two cars, and a tail-rope or tractiona'ope ot' the length ot' the entire Atrack secured with its ends to said cars and passed around said pnlley, substantially as described.

5. The combination ot' 1 an inclined rope track, a switch at the middle of the same and formed with an elevated and a depressed track one above the other, a guide-pulley at the upper end ot' said rope track, two cars, a tail-rope or traction-rope securedat its end to lsaid cars and passed around said guidepulley, and rollers upon the upper side of the car which travel on the depressed track of the switch, substantially as described.

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6. The combination of a rope track, supports for said track rigidly connected in pairs and moya-bly supported at the lower ends, a switch, two upper end supports for said switch rigidly connected and movably supported at the lower ends, and two lower end supports for said switch rigidly connected and depending freely from the lower end of said switch and from the rope track, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a track, a car having the peripheries ot' its wheels grooved to travel upon said track, and a car having the peripheries of its wheels formed with grooves to travel upon said track and with grooves outside of said grooves, of apair of depressed lower switch-rails which form continuations of said track, and a pair of raised upper switch-rails upon which said outer grooves of said car-wheels may travel, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In combination with the track-ropes and the cars formed, respectively, with one set of peripheral grooves, 55, in the wh eels and with two sets of peripheral grooves, 55 and 56, in the wheels, the end supports, 21 and 40, the caps 33 and 39, formed with the inner and outer grooved ridges and having the ends of said track-ropes secured in the inner ridges, the depressed lower track-rods having their ends secured in said inner ridges, the raised upper track-rods having their ends secured in saidouter ridges, and the U-shaped supports for spacing said track-rods, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. The combination of a rope track, supports 21, rigidly connected to each other and movably supported at the lower ends, caps 33, formed with outer and inner grooved ridges, 34 and 35, and having the ends of the rope track secured in said inner ridges, the short posts 40, rigidly united and provided with caps 39, formed with outer and inner grooved ridges having the ends of the rope track secured in said inner ridges, the U -shaped frames 42, the upper raised track-rods secured with their ends in said outer ridges of said caps 33 and 39, supported upon'the upper ends of said U-shaped frames, and the lower depressed track-rods secured with their ends in said inner ridges of said caps 33 and 39 and formed with ears it, secured to said U- shaped frames by bolts 13, substantially as described.

10. In combination with a rope track formed with a switch upon its middle and two cars traveling upon the same, a grooved pulley journaled to revolve in a plane at an angle to the direction and to the plane oi' said track, and a tail-rope or traction-rope passed around said grooved pulley and having its ends secured, respectively, to the upper and lower edges of the ends ot' the cars and near opposite corners to bring the rope to reach and leave said grooved pulley tangentially, substantially as described.

11. In an inclined rope tramway, the combination of a platform supported by two horizontal beams, 7, outwardly-inclined supports 3 for said beams, and hai/'ing a cross-piece, 5, uprights S, inclined beams 9, supported by said uprights and by said platform, a pulley formed with a wide fiat rim having a lined groove, and having its shaft j ournaled in boxes upon said inclined beams 9 at an angle to said beams, a weighted brake bearing against the fiat rim of said pulley, track-ropes anchored at the inner end of said platform-beams 7 and supported by the upper ends of said inclined supports 3, and formed with a switch upon their middle, cars traveling upon said track-ropes, and a tail-rope or traction-rope passed around said grooved pulley and secured with its ends to the upper ends of said cars, respectively, to the upper and lower edges of said ends and near opposite corners of the same, substantially as described.

12. In a rope gravity-tramway, the combination of sleepers having cylindro-concave chairs or pillow-blocks, pairs of track-supports or points having the lower ends rounded to iit and rock in said chairs and united by cross-pieces, track-ropes secured in the upper ends of said supports, and pairs of rollers journaled between said supports, substantially as described.

13. In a rope gravity-tramway, the combination of two track-ropes, pairs of supports for said ropes, a switch at the middle of said track-ropes, an oblique pulley at the upper ends of said ropes, two cars traveling upon said track-ropes, a tail-rope or traction-rope passed around said oblique pulley and having its ends secured, respectively, to the upper and lower edges of the ends of said cars and near opposite corners, and pairs of rollers j ournaled transversely between said supports for supporting the parts of said tail or traction rope as they travel in opposite directions, substantially as described.

14. In a rope tramway, the combination of the track-ropes, supports or posts for the same, and caps formed of two jaws clamped up on the ends of said supports by nutted bolts and formed with upwardly-projecting lips, which clamp said ropes, substantially as described.

l5. A gravity-tramway composed of two track-ropes supported upon posts, a suspended switch having two sets of tracks, one below the other and of dierent gage, and two connected cars, oney of which has wheels having grooves adapted to run upon the track-ropes and upon the switch-track of widest gage, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

16. In a gravity-tranuvay, the combination of two track-ropes and a suspended switch having rails of different gage arranged one above the other with two connected cars suspended from axles, the wheels 'ot' one of the cars being adapted to the track-ropes and to the broad-gage rails of the switch, and the wheels of the other car being adapted to ythe IOO IIO

track-ropes and to the narrow-gage rails of the switch, substantially as described.

17. A tramway composed of two track-ropes, rigidly-eonneeted supports for each rope, and a switeh-track ot' upper and lower rails suspended in line with the track-ropes for the passage of ears one above the other, substantially as described.

18. In a gravity-tramway, a ear provided with a hinged bottom anda lateh for the tree edge of said bottom, and provided with a lat orallyproject-ing arm which has a downwardly-projeeting pin, in combination with a plate provided with an oblique and upturned flange secured to the dumping-platform vt'or engaging said pin and drawing said la-teh, substantially as deseriluul.

I9. In a tramway, a ear-bo \l1a\'i ng a hinged bottom, and a latehl )a1"t`or engaging the tree edge oi' said bottom and provided with a laterally-extended arm which is formed with a down wardly-proj eeti n g pi n which has a sleeve or roller, in eoml'iination with a plate or bar formed with an upturned oblique .flange and pivoted to the dunipiiig-platform to engage said pin with the outer end of said liange and draw the same outward, a stop for the inner end ot` said plate or bar, and a s1 ringseeured to said inner end ot' the plate or bar and to said stop, substantially as described.

20. In a tramway, the eoml1 ination ot' the traek, a ear whieh has its wheels traveling upon said track and which is provided with a hinged bottom, and a latch for the free edge ot' said bottom and provided with a laterallyextending arm whieh is provided with a downwardly-lnojeeting pin, in eombination with a plate or bar which is pivoted beneath one track-rail and provided with an upturned oblique flange at its outer end, whieh flange points inward at the end pointing in the direction of the deseent ot' said ear, a stop for the inner end oit said plate or bar, and a spring secured to said inner end and to said stop, substan tially as and lorthe purpose described.

2l. In a tramway, the combination of the traek, a ear having its wheels traveling upon said track and provided with a bottom hinged to one side olf said ear and prtivided with a latch, and a lever whieh is lfulernmed under one railA olil said traek and lormed with a bnmperi'lpon its inner end t'or bearing against said hinged bottom, and with a poise upon its outer end for elosing said bottom,substantially as deseribed.

In a tramway, the eombination of. the track, a ear whieh has its 'wheels traveling upon said track and provided with a bottom hinged to one side and provided with a suitable latch, a lever tulerumed under said track and provided with a bumper upon its inner end for bearing against said bottom and with a poise upon its outer end :for elosing said bottom, and a bumper arrangei'l beneath said poise, substznitially as deseribed.

255. In a rope tramway, the combination otl the rope traek, a` Car having grooved wheels which travel upon said traekropes, beams or supports under said traek-ropes at the dumping terminus, and angle-iron rails upon the upper sides of said beams, having the trac-,k-

ropes .resting upon them and formed with slightly-inclined upper ends, substantially as and t'or the purpose described.

it. In a rope tramway, the mpc-supports mounted in ehai rs or pillow-blocks adapted to allow a vi'ln'atory movement to the upper ends ot' said supports in the line oil the traek,sub stantially as deseribed, For the purpose speelied.

In a rope tramway, the traek-ropes, each anchored at its ends and supported at inter vals by upright rigid eross-lrames having a clamping deviee [for each rope and lnLving eoncave soekets confining supports at their lower ends, substantially as deseribed, For the purpose speeiiied.

Qt. In a rope tramwav, the track-lames, eaeh ancliored at its ends, in combination with upright rigid cross supl'iorting-frames having metal jaws adapted to be elamped and bound upon said rtiipes and contormin tothe grooves ot the ear-wheels, substantiall)Y as deseribed.

S27. In a rope tramway, the trruzleropes, in eombination with rigid siniporting erosstrames havin jaw-irons for eaeh track-rope, eonsisting ot' the jaws 27 27, t'ormed with lips 29 2f), having eoneave seats fitting and embraeing the rope and fitting the grooves of the earwheels, and the elan1ping-bo1ts 28 for said jaw-irons, sul stantially as flleseribed.

2S. A single-trail; tramway ccmsisting ot' the two traek-ropes, eross-supports therefor, and a switch Connected in the middle of their length having indepinident tracks one above the other, one having a broader gage than the other, whereb ,\r ears ascending and de seending the single track are permitted to pass eaeh other, substantially as described.

29. A siugle-traek tramway Consisting ot' two traek-ropes, eross-supports therefor, and suitable elampin de viees Vt'or said track-ropes, and a switeh having independent tracks one above the other, one forming a eontiiiuation ot' said track-reims and the other having a broader gage, substmitially as described, lior the purpose speeilim'l.

Si). The Combination ot' a Isin glet raek tram way eonsistingol two traek-ropes and a switeh having two independent tin-ichs, on e above the other, olf dilierent gage, with ears having wheels adapted to run upon said traek-ropes and to pass eaeh other over the switch, substantially as herein set forth.

8l. In a si nglerope-traek tramway, a swi teh suspended by the two track-rope supports and having two 't'.raelvs, one above the other, composed ot .rods and U-shaped frames to which said rods are .firmly secured at ditte/rent d istanees apart, one pair of said. rigid switeh-traek rods forming a eontininttion. ot' the two traekv-ropes, substantially as de scribed. y

32, A single-traelerope traimvay consisting IOO IIO

of the rope tracks anchored at each end and a middle section composed of a rigid frame having two independent tracks of different gage one above the other and suspended from rope tracks having movable supports, substantially as herein set forth.

33. A tramway composed of two trackropes supported upon posts movably socketed in pillow-blocks, in combination with switchtracks and a frame supporting the latter between said posts, substantially as described.

34. A tramway composed of two track-ropes, rigidly-connected supports foreach rope, and a switch having rigid tracks arranged in pairs one above the other and connected to said supports, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

35. In a rope tramway, the rope-supports rigidly connected in pairs, each support having a iixed connection with the ropes and a free connection with confining pillow-blocks or chairs, in combination with a switch suspended upon and between the said rope-supports, substantially as described.

36. A tramway composed of two trackropes, rigidly-connected supports foi` each rope, and. a'switch having' tracks supported in line with and in planes above and below the said track-ropes, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

37. In a gravity-tramway, the combination, with track-ropes anchored at each end and secured upon rigidly-connected but movable pairs of supports, of station-ary platforms over and upon which the said track-ropes pass to their anchorage, substantially as herein set forth.

38. A tramway composed of two trackropes anchored at their ends and secured upon the ends of posts rigidly connected crosswise in pairs and mounted in chairs or pillowblocks adapted to allow said connected posts to have a movement with and in the line of the track-ropes under the weight of the cars,- substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JESSE W. RENO.

Witnesses:

Guns, A. HINCKLEY, ANNIE E. WHITE. 

